Julie's Journal : A New Author

2020 has been the year that keeps on giving, hasn't it?  I have struggled to keep a positive outlook as the year has progressed.  One symptom of the year is that I have struggled to focus on books, particularly new-to-me books.  I have spent a lot of my reading time this year re-reading old favorites, rather than jumping into new books.  I probably haven't been as good at recommending books for patrons this year because of that.

However, I have discovered a new author I am enjoying.  Beth O'Leary is a young British writer.  On her website she says, "I write uplifting love stories - the sorts of books you reach for when you need a hug."  That has certainly been the type of book I have wanted this year.

Her debut novel was The Flatshare.  Tiffy is in need of a place to stay, and fast.  Leon needs a roommate.  They agree to an arrangement where Tiffy occupies the apartment at night, and Leon, who works nights, has possession during the day.  They will not ever actually meet.  The arrangement works out better than either could have expected and they begin to get to know each other through the notes they leave for one another.  I usually like a book written in dual POV (points-of-view) and this was no exception.  Although this is a light read, with a predictable happy ending, it does deal with some darker subjects - emotional abuse, stalking, wrongful imprisonment.

O'Leary's second book is The Switch.  Again written with a dual POV, the main characters this time are 29 year old Leena Cotton and her 79 year old grandmother, Eileen.  The book begins about a year after Leena's sister dies of cancer.  Leena is being required to take a sabbatical from her high-pressure job in London.  Eileen is looking for love after her husband left her, but she's finding pickings to be very slim in her small village.  They decide to switch lives - Leena will take on all her grandmother's projects in the village, and Eileen will move into Leena's London apartment and try to find love.  Both women are at first very lost in the others' world, but soon settle into their new lives.  Again, although the story is a light, happy read, it does deal with heavier topics; in particular The Switch deals with grief and moving forward after a death.

A word of caution - I have found that British authors seem to be much more liberal in their use of bad language than we might be used to, so don't be surprised to find profanity sprinkled throughout both books.

The Switch is available now on Overdrive/Libby and both hardback books should be coming soon to FCL.